2026 On-site report
Working spaces need more than furniture
Office technology developments to attract greater attention in the future
One of the main ways in which offices differ from homes is the wide range of technologies required to support them as workplaces, from occupancy management systems and online meeting environments to lighting and climate control.
This became particularly apparent through the two experience-based booths presented by Panasonic.
Panasonic’s exhibits demonstrated how technology can help remove stress from the workplace. In the online conferencing system booth, highly sensitive cameras identified the speaker and zoomed in naturally. Microphones and speakers integrated into the ceiling worked together to capture voices and track faces. The result was a striking reduction in the delays, awkwardness and uncertainty over who was speaking that have often characterised online meetings. Particularly impressive was how naturally participants could recognise and approach one another across distances.
Rather than there being devices inside a meeting room, it felt like the space itself was listening, observing and connecting. Now that hybrid working has become commonplace, the quality of online meetings is no longer simply a matter of convenience. It directly affects concentration and the depth of discussions. The booth highlighted how visual and audio technologies have become important components of workplace design.
Another memorable experience was the Panasonic Electric Works booth which let visitors experience a lighting system aimed at supporting workers’ emotions and motivation. Refreshing light and fragrance were used in the morning, warm light optimised for meetings during the day, and calmer, more relaxing light in the evening. Visitors were able to experience the rhythm of a working day through changing lighting conditions.
Lighting is no longer simply about providing light. It is becoming something that can shape moods, encourage concentration, support communication and, at times, guide people towards a sense of calm. This year saw the introduction of a dedicated lighting zone, reflecting growing interest in the role of light within the workplace.
Alongside the exhibitors’ booths, the event also offered a substantial programme of seminars and talks. There were presentations by international architects, project planners and workplace experts. Being able to come in direct contact with perspectives that are rarely accessible in everyday life in Japan is one of ORGATEC TOKYO’s unique offerings.
Looking back on ORGATEC TOKYO 2026, the strongest impression I was left with was that working spaces need more than only furniture. Sound, light, materials, visual media, electrical infrastructure, privacy, communication and company philosophy all overlap and interact. Only through that combination can a place emerge where people gather, converse, think and create.
The office is no longer simply a place to work in the way it once was. Who do we connect with, and how? What frame of mind do we spend time in? What kind of value do we create? These are the questions that many companies offered their answers to at this year’s ORGATEC TOKYO.
Miki Homma／Lifestyle Journalist
After gaining experience in the editorial department of the interior design magazine Shitsunai, Miki Homma became an independent journalist. She has been involved in reporting, writing, seminars and various other activities related to furniture, interior design, architecture, kitchen design and more. Ms Homma has conducted numerous interviews overseas in Germany, Italy and other countries. Her published works include “Real Kitchen & Interior”, “Real Living & Interior”, and "Interior Kitchens That Change Your Life" (Shogakukan).